Susan, who had been watching the argument from the sidelines, burst into quiet laughter, the sound rich and exuberant. Her shoulders bounced as her body swayed. Her eyes were fixed keenly on the trio as she watched, eager to see how the influence of Zack's appearance would play out.

Zack's gaze was relentlessly steady on him, his face calm but his eyes flickered with a dangerous aura, as if he was willing to hurt Ethan at any moment. The typical Zack Anderson that many felt intimidated by.

Ethan took a few steps backward, clearly intimidated by Zack's imposing demeanor, but still, his face was devoid of fear, his movement coming...